Book Review: Business Plan Secrets Revealed

The key to successfully starting any business is a good business plan. In his e-book, “Business Plan Secrets Revealed,” Mike Elia guides you step-by-step through the business plan process – from collecting the evidence you will use to build your plan to delivering your plan to qualified investors.

His book provides the basic information you need to write a business plan. But your real focus is to reveal how to communicate your plan to investors and convince them that your business is your best investment option.

When I first opened the revealed business plan secrets, my heart sank. You see, I had promised Mike that I would read his book in its entirety before writing a review. And Business Plan Secrets Revealed is no ordinary e-book with one-sentence paragraphs, large fonts, and sizable margins. It is packed with information!

But when I started reading, I was pleasantly surprised. Mike’s writing style is engaging and practical, and his explanations simplify difficult concepts. Throughout the book, it felt like a friend was sitting with me on the back porch, naturally explaining exactly how to do something. It’s the kind of simple practicality that you can achieve only when you fully understand a topic.

Mike’s clear understanding of business planning concepts is the result of an experience spanning over 20 years. Mike helps business owners buy, sell and finance their businesses. He has overseen manufacturing and sales locations in more than nine countries. He is a CPA, holds an MBA and has served as CFO of two publicly traded companies.

Business Plan Secrets Revealed begins with tips for gathering and organizing the information you will need. From the beginning, Mike has been focused on overcoming his biggest challenge: closing the investor confidence gap. In the chapter “Show Me the Numbers,” Mike offers some of the clearest explanations of business financial statements that you have ever read. If concepts like equity or cash flow statements make your eyes glaze over, then your salvation has arrived.

The later chapters of Business Plan Secrets Revealed really deliver on Mike’s promise to help you communicate your business plan effectively. There are complete instructions on how to write your business plan, including how to open and read your plan, and how to avoid nine common writing mistakes. It explains how choosing the right layout can make your business plan easier to read. Mike concludes by telling you how to prepare for critical investor face-to-face time, including developing a direct, 60-second verbal speech for your business. Tips for finding investors and a resource section complete the book.

I must admit that several times while reading, I wondered, “Do I really need that business plan that much?” This is not a business plan solution to fill in the blanks and print it out. But then I realized: if I really want to be successful, then I need to know as much as possible about my business from the beginning. Before you start spending money. Before I put myself in danger in the market.

By the way, I made it through the entire book. And I confirmed that Mike delivers on what he promises on the cover: he teaches you how to quickly gather evidence, build a case for your business, and write a readable plan that will attract investors and make your business the most attractive investment option. Even if you already have other business planning resources, I recommend that you reveal the secrets of the business plan.